AU President Edwards to be recognized by the Indianapolis Colts

Tue, 2014-08-19 10:06 -- univcomm

August 19, 2014

Dr. James L. Edwards, president of Anderson University, will be recognized as the 12th Man Fan of the Game by the Indianapolis Colts during the Colts pre-season football game on August 23 against the New Orleans Saints.

The 12th Man Fan of the Game honor is given to an individual at each Indianapolis Colts home game whose contributions to their community and the country are far reaching. The special recognition will occur just prior to kick-off.

President Edwards will be recognized by the Colts as the longest serving president (in both public and private universities) in the State of Indiana. Anderson University is the home of the Indianapolis Colts summer training camp. The conclusion of the 2014 camp marked 20 collective years that AU hosted the Indianapolis Colts as they prepared for the regular season.

[Photo: President Dr. James L. Edwards with Indianapolis Colts head coach, Chuck Pagano, at Colts Training Camp held at Anderson University.]

In March, 2014, Dr. Edwards announced his plans to conclude his presidency by the end of the 2014-15 academic year. His last year of service will mark 25 years of distinguished leadership as president of Anderson University. Edwards has served as president of Anderson University since 1990 and is only the fourth person to hold the office in the school’s 97-year history.

During his tenure as president, Dr. Edwards has overseen several comprehensive capital campaigns raising funding support totaling more than $205 million dollars. A number of major facilities have been constructed during his presidency, including the Kardatzke Wellness Center, York Performance Hall, York Seminary Village, additions onto Decker Hall and Hartung Hall, a new business school, the Flagship Enterprise Center and improvements to residence halls and many existing campus facilities.

Dr. Edwards has extensive involvement in the arena of higher education in Indiana and nationally and has been a busy community leader during his tenure. He has served on the board of directors of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. He has also served as a director and officer of the board of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, as chair of the board for Independent Colleges of Indiana, and a member of the Steering Committee of the Indiana Leadership Prayer Breakfast. He holds board membership on the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Association and served as chair of Indiana Campus Compact.

Locally, Dr. Edwards has served on the board of directors of the Madison County Community Foundation, the Corporation for Economic Development of Madison County and First Merchants Bank of Central Indiana. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Anderson where he was honored with the 2003 Community Image Award. He has served on the Ministries Council of the Church of God, the board of directors of St. Vincent Anderson Regional Hospital, Citizens Banking Company and the United Way.

Prior to his election as president of Anderson University, Dr. Edwards was president and chief executive officer for Warner Press, publishing house for the Church of God. In this assignment, he directed the work of the largest religious publisher in Indiana.

An ordained minister, Dr. Edwards has served the Church of God in a variety of assignments, including serving in senior pastoral leadership in a number of major churches across the country. Prior to national executive service, he was senior pastor of the Meadow Park Church of God in Columbus, Ohio. Earlier pastorates were in Indiana and Michigan.

Edwards is a graduate of Anderson University and the Anderson University School of Theology. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Policy and Leadership at The Ohio State University.